AIAMB_EP UPDATE 02.2008

This year we are looking to continue the momentum we created in 2007. Our main goal is to encourage and support the process to licensure. Our yahoo group is a way where you can find study material and study groups.

Last year we partnered with the Monterey Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. We will continue this relationship by helping them finish the design of a house and its construction at a site in Marina.

We are also looking to expand our network of emerging professionals in the Monterey Bay area by having a series of educational seminars and evenings out. We enjoy meeting new people and want others to feel they have our professional support. The chapter also has a lot of activities that allow the Associates to mingle with the architects. We encourage you to attend the events and join the chapter.

Ryan and I are always open to questions, suggestions, etc. Feel free to email us at: libby@carverschicketanz.com or ryanc@pauldavispartnership.com

Sincerely,
Libby Barnes, Assoc. AIA

Fort Ord Youth Hostel Design Charrette

Emerging Professionals + Hostelling International USA

All the Emerging Professionals’ interests seemed to align in the opportunity to create a sustainable vision for a youth hostel in Fort Ord.  Naturally, when Dan Fletcher asked if we would be interested in organizing and participating in our own design charrette, we couldn’t have been more excited.  Hostelling International USA’s goals for the project included increasing hostel overnight capacity, creating community spaces, focusing on the natural assets of the peninsula’s seascape and bike trails, and serving as a learning model for sustainable design.  The site, located in the former Fort Ord in Seaside, included four existing army buildings, two parking lots, some beautiful old trees and grasses, and butane tanks.  We combined these elements, information gathered from field trips to the Monterey Hostel and Fort Ord site, and background presentations and research on hostels around the world and site connectivity to prepare ourselves.  The charrette itself lasted a Friday night and all of the following Saturday with contributions from HI-USA’s Art Carroll, Aaron Ely, and Peter Kambas as well as AIA Monterey Bay’s Phoebe Richbourg, Libby Barnes, Daniela de Sola, Ryan Cornelsen, Oona Gabersek, and Clark Larson. 

            What came out of this collaboration was a synthesis of elements including: photovoltaics, rainwater catchment, and parking combined; redesign of site entry and circulation, parking, and outdoor programming; and detailed drawings and programming for adaptive reuse of two of the four structures.  The two teams of Site and Building focused on sustainable design as well as phasing in order to take into account budget and growth considerations.  The choice to focus on two buildings was strategic to get the much-needed overnight capacity and to accommodate large groups inside and outside.  When we made our presentation at the end of the day, the response was excited, appreciative, and impressed.  We all felt relieved that we had pulled it off and done well for a new vision in a day. 

The experience was valuable to the Emerging Professionals for the lessons we learned about community involvement, collaboration amongst ourselves, and the empowerment of taking on and accomplishing such a project.

 Thanks to Hostelling International for the opportunity, to Dan Fletcher for thinking of us, to Carver + Schicketanz for letting us use their office for the charrette, to San Jose Blue for their services in getting a book together, and to other contributors such as Susana Guzman, Heather Marquard, and Francisco Tanguilig for doing some of the behind the scenes work. 

INSIDE ARCHITECTURE
For an irreverent perspective on architecture offices.
www.insidearch.org/home.php

UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS ONLINE RESOURCE LIBRARY
This library offers an in depth information relevant to associates.
http://library.nevada.edu/arch/rsrce/webrsrce/contents.html

ArchVoices

Emerging Professional's Companion

National Young Architects Forum

AIA Emerging Professionals

Check out our yahoo group for more links!